By Seth Danquah
Takoradi, Sept. 29, GNA – As Ghana joins the rest of the world to celebrate World Tourism Day on the theme, “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,” stakeholders in the hospitality industry are renewing calls for critical ancillary infrastructure to unlock the Western Region’s tourism potential.
Chief among the demands is the urgent establishment of modern Tourist Information Centres (TICs), both at the regional level and in a decentralised form across District Assemblies.
Despite being widely celebrated as a tourism haven, the Western Region’s vast potential remains constrained by a persistent challenge: the absence of a centralised, well-equipped physical and digital information hub to guide, inform and orient travellers.
Unmet potential
The Western Region boasts some of Ghana’s most captivating natural, historical and cultural treasures, ranging from the UNESCO World Heritage stilt village of Nzulezo and the rich biodiversity of the Ankasa Conservation Area to the coastal attractions of Busua Beach, Cape Three Points and Fort Metal Cross.
However, independent travellers and tour operators frequently encounter challenges because of the lack of dedicated information centres.
Without an official hub providing verified, real-time information on feeder road conditions, public transport schedules, tides and seasonal access, visitors may waste valuable time navigating unmapped routes or relying on unverified word-of-mouth information.
Many lesser-known heritage sites, craft centres and local eco-lodges also remain under-promoted.
Over-reliance on informal channels tends to concentrate tourist traffic in a few popular destinations, while surrounding communities miss opportunities to benefit economically from tourism.
The absence of official visitor desks can also expose tourists to informal operators, inflated prices and uncertified guides, with implications for visitor safety and the region’s overall brand reputation.
Bridging technology and local governance
While a central TIC in the regional capital, Takoradi, could serve as a major entry point, industry experts argue that meaningful transformation would require decentralised digital TICs within individual District Assemblies, including Ahanta West, Ellembelle, Nzema East and Jomoro.
Interactive digital information kiosks located within District Assembly premises could create direct synergies between local administration and tourism development.
District Assemblies understand their attractions and tourism assets best. Local information hubs could therefore curate and showcase unique community events, culinary tours and lesser-known destinations directly to visitors.
The centres could also streamline permitting and safety arrangements by providing a single window through which visitors and tour operators could obtain local permits, access emergency contacts and engage certified community guides.
Decentralised centres could further encourage visitors to explore rural districts, ensuring that entrance fees, guide fees and purchases from artisans remain within local economies.
Virtual previews before the journey
This year’s World Tourism Day theme, “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,” highlights the potential of technology to enhance visitor experiences while preserving local heritage.
Equipped with interactive kiosks, high-speed internet and virtual reality (VR) headsets, modern TICs could offer prospective tourists immersive previews of remote attractions before they finalise their travel itineraries.
A traveller visiting a district information centre, for instance, could use a VR headset to virtually explore the canopy walk at Ankasa or assess ocean conditions at Busua before committing to the journey.
Such digital previews could enhance pre-trip decision-making, improve accessibility for travellers with limited mobility and help local authorities manage visitor numbers more sustainably.
A call for action
For the Western Region to fully realise its vision of becoming a major tourism hub in Ghana, government agencies, including the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and District Assemblies, must collaborate to establish these essential ancillary facilities.
Investing in smart, decentralised Tourist Information Centres is therefore more than building information desks. It is about creating the physical and digital gateways needed to transform the Western Region’s rich natural, historical and cultural heritage into a seamless, modern and world-class visitor experience.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/Audrey Dekalu
Reporter Seth Danquah